TRAMPERS HELD UP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22726, 12 May 1937, Page 12

TRAMPERS HELD UP

FLOOD AFTER HEAVY RAIN RIVER BRIDGED BY TREE [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] PALMERSTON NORTH, Tuesday To be prevented from returning to Levin by the flooded waters of the Ohau River consequent upon heavy rain in the Aararuas, and to be forced to spend one more night than anticipated at the Ohau hut, was the unenviable experience of a large party of trampers who journeyed into Ohau Valley on Saturday evening, with the intention of returning on Sunday. Tho river was eventually bridged by felling a largo tree, but this was so late in tho evening that it was deemed advisable for tho majority of the party to spend another night at the hut. With the exception of a few who tramped out by torchlight, they did not reach Levin until yesterday morning. Considerable rain fell during Saturday night, but in the morning the river was no more above normal than it had been the previous evening. The next few hours, however, brought very heavy rain, and when a start was made on the return journey the river was found to be impassable. An attempt was made to provide a crossing immediately below the hut by felling two or three small trees across the stream, but tho strong current simply swept these away. A start was made in the middle of the afternoon with the felling of a big rimu on tho river bank, but this was not completed until after darkness had fallen.

In the meantime two young Palmerston North men had succeeded in wading through the torrent at a point higher up by roping themselves together with wire, and they came out to Levin at nightfall to relieve the minds of anxious relatives. With the bridging of the stream one lady member of the party and five men made the journey out by torchlight, but the insufficient lighting and the uncertain nature of the track ufter the rain rendered it wiser for the greater number to remain where they were until yesterday morning, when they reached Levin shortly before 10 o'clock.